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(No Model.) 2 Aam@ets-sheet 1.

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SLEEPING CAR BERTH. n No. 542,226'. Patented July 2, 1895.

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ATTORNEY (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet W. D. DOWNS.

SLBBPINg GAR BERTH. No. 542,226. Patented July 2, 1895.4

IN VENT 0R ATTORNEY NITED .STATES ATENT Fries.

WILLIAM D. DOWNS, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-EIGHTHS TO D.WALTER EVANS AND ALBERT W. REITZE, OF SAME PLACE.

SLEEPING-CAR BERTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,226, dated July v2,1895.

Application filed November 22, 1894.. Serial No. 529,548. (No model.)

To all whom it mag/concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. DoWNs, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sleeping-`Oar Berths; andI do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification. i5 My inventionrelates to improvements in sleeping-car berths; and it consists of thefeatures, arrangements, and combinations hereinafter described andclaimed, all of which will be fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. Inthe drawings,Figure l is a top or plan view of the berth with themattress removed. Fig. 2 is a top view with the central part of theberth, together with the mattress and blankets, drawn back and folded upagainst the side of the car. Fig- 3 is a front view of the berth, theparts being in the same position as in Fig. 2, the mattress and blanketsbeing removed. Fig. t is a section taken on the line oo oo, Fig. 2.Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate modified forms of construction. Fig.' 7 is anunderneath View, in perspective, illustrating lthe hinged back of theseat, which forms the central part of the made-up berth. Fig. 8 is adetail View, in perspective, showing the mattress in its normalposition-that is, with the top uppermost. Fig. 9 is a similar viewshowing the mattress inverted, or with the bottom uppermost. Fig. 10 isa cross-sectiou of the mattress.

From an inspection of the views it will be observed that the feature ofthis improvement consists in the construction and arrangement of theparts, whereby the central part of the made-up berth, together with themattress and blankets or other bedding, may be so folded or manipulatedthat a space is left in front and between the seat-bottoms. 5o Theobject of this improvement is to give the occupants of the berth anopportunity to dress or undress with all the ease'and convenience oeredby the ordinary sleeping-apartment.

In my improved construction the parts which form the backs of the seatsare divided, the two portions of each seat-back being hinged together.These divided seat-backs -`form the-central part of the made-up berth.In the preferred form of construction this 6o central portion of theberth-bottom is drawn backward and folded against the car, whereby aspace is left between the seats or between the two parts of theberth-bottom on either side of the center. The mattress and bedding aremoved with the hinged part of the berth,thus exposing the seats, so thatthey may be occupied on each side of the central space. Thismanipulation of the central part of the berth, together with thebedding,may 7o be easily accomplished by the occupants of the berth.

In the use of the improvement the berth, after being made up in theordinary way,may be adjusted as desired by the person preparing it,whereby it is made ready for the occupants, who, after preparing toretire, may readjust the parts to their normal position.

Another feature of the invention relates to the mattress, whichisconstructed with a flap So for concealing the edges of the blankets,whereby they are removed from contact with the upholstered parts of theberth-bottom. By reason of this feature the berth. may be manipulated asdescribed Without disturbing or disarranging the bedding of the made-upberth.

Having thus outlined the main features of the invention, together withtheir functions,

I will now describe the improvement in de- 9o tail, reference being hadto the several views of the drawings, in which similar referencecharacters indicate corresponding parts.

Let the numeral 5 designate the upholstered parts which form the backsof the two seats. Each of these backs 'is divided, preferably, above thecenter, the two portions being hinged together. These two backs areplaced in the center between the seat-bottoms in making up the berth.The rear portions of the roo two parts 5 are supported by the ordinarysliding rail 6, while the front portions of the two backs are providedwith staples or U- shaped devices 7, through which is passed a specialbar 8, having its extremities suitably supported, whereby as the parts 5are drawn backward or folded the front bar is also moved, leaving thespace between the seats unobstructed.

To facilitate the manipulation of the parts 5, the framework of theberth may be provided with antifrictional rollers 9, which engage theparts 5 as they are moved back and forth. To the rear extremities of theparts 5 are attached the extremities of a cord 10, to whose centralportion is made fast another cord 12, which passes over a pulley 13,attached to the side of the car.

After the berth is made up the parts may be adjusted to the positionshown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 by pulling on the cord 12. The cord 10 shouldbe readily detachable from the parts 5, whereby they may be separated orplaced in position to form the seat-backs.

While it is preferred that the parts 5 be arranged as shown in Figs. 2,3, and 4,it will be understood that instead of drawing the parts 5 backand folding up their rear ends against the side of the car, as shown insaid figures, the front ends of the parts 5 may be folded upward withoutdisturbing their rear ends, (see Fig. 5,) or the two portions of theparts 5 may be so hinged that they may be folded downward, as shown inFig. 6. In this case the mattress and bedding would be folded on itselffrom the front toward the back.

In order to facilitate the manipulation ot the bedding I employ aspecial form of mattress 14, which, like the ordinary mattressesemployed in connection with sleeping-car berths, is adapted to fold onitself. The novel feature of this mattress is the flap 14s, attached tothe bottom of the mattress and exlending around the same. This flap maybe vformed in any suitable manner. Its function is to receive and retainthe edges of the blankets and other covering, whereby the disarrangementof the bed-covering during the adjustment of the parts 5 is obviated.

The rear extremities of the parts 5 are provided with suitable devicesl5, adapted to engage the rear edge of the mattress, or that fartherfrom the aisle of the car, whereby the mattress is retained in place.Nothing is claimed on this feature, however, as it is old in the art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A sleeping carberth having-its central portion transversely divided, the two partsbeing hinged togetherin such a manner that the hinged seat part may bemoved toward the side of the car by raising one portion thereof to aposition parallel, or approximately parallel, with the car side, andsuitable means attached to the hinged central portion of the berthbottom for eecting said adjustment, substantially as described.

2. Asleeping car berth whose bottom is provided with a central parttransversely divided and hinged whereby it is adapted to fold, incombination with a mattress having a flap on lits margin, the outer edgeof the flap being free and its inner edge fast to the mattress wherebythe edges of the bed clothing may be concealed, and thus removed fromcontact with the movable central part of the berthbottom, substantiallyas described.

3. A sleeping car berth having the central part of its bottomtransversely divided and adapted to fold, in combination with means formanipulating the same consisting of a cord passing around a pulleyattached to the side of the car, substantially as described.

4. A sleeping car berth having a hinged central portion adapted to slideand fold, in combination with anti-frictional rollers jonrnaled in theframework of the berth and engaging the movable central part on theunder side, substantially as described.

5. A mattress having a flap on its margin, the outer edge of the fiapbeing free and its inner edge fast to the mattress, the depth of the apbeing sufficient to receive and conceal the edges of the bed clothingwhich are tucked between theliap and the body of the mattress,substantially as described.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM D. DOWNS. Witnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, CHAs. E. DAwsoN.

